Preliminary data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service indicated that Sunday, July 21, marked the hottest day ever recorded globally.
On Sunday, the global average surface air temperature hit 17.09°C (62.76°F), surpassing the previous record of 17.08°C (62.74°F) set last July.
Heatwaves have gripped much of the United States, Europe, and Russia over the past week. Copernicus confirmed to Reuters that Sunday’s record daily temperature average, surpassing the previous high set last year, was indeed a new milestone in their records dating back to 1940.
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Last year, the record was broken on four consecutive days from July 3 to July 6. This period of extreme heat was attributed to climate change, exacerbated by fossil fuel emissions, impacting the Northern Hemisphere.
According to Copernicus, every month since June 2023 has set a record as the hottest for that month in the planet’s history, marking 13 consecutive months of unprecedented heat compared to previous years.
As per scientists, 2024 might surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record. This potential rise in temperatures is attributed to ongoing climate change and the lingering effects of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which ended in April.
